Self-Assessment to Increase Creativity in the Writing Process

Abstract

This research seeks to demonstrate that self-assessment is a strategy that helps students to improve their English language skills, specifically in writing, and that in turn it allows them to enhance creativity, which is important within this skill. This study was conducted in a private school, with students in eighth grade. They were previously assessed in their language skills, and had to perform writing activities for their level, A2.2, creating descriptive and narrative stories. In the context of this research, students with different language levels coexisted, and their initial assessments showed that there was a gap in writing ability that needed to be filled. Students were not able to reach the required number of words in their writing, nor did they show creativity in developing writing according to the requested statements. This research work, which includes quantitative and qualitative instruments, is focused on the influence of self-assessment, and how it can help in correcting work and finding errors, and in turn, make suggestions on how classroom activities could be improved. Usually, students do not have opportunities to practice writing stories, and this is something that requires continuous practice to reach the expected level.